Korean fencing has secured medals in all events at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games team competitions. On the final day of the tournament, both the women's sabre and men's epee teams reached the semifinals, guaranteeing at least a bronze medal.
The women's sabre team, consisting of Jeon Ha-young (Seoul City Hall), Kim Jeong-mi, Seo Ji-yeon (Ansan City Hall), and Choi Se-bin (Daejeon City Hall), defeated Hong Kong 45-28 in the quarterfinals held on September 27 at the Aichi Sky Expo in Tokoname, Japan.
Korea took the lead from the start, with Choi Se-bin scoring 5-2 in the opening bout. Jeon Ha-young followed, adding 5 points without conceding any, extending the lead to 10-2.
Although Korea allowed Hong Kong to close the gap in the middle of the match, they maintained control. Seo Ji-yeon and Choi Se-bin widened the margin again, and Jeon Ha-young sealed the victory, confirming their place in the semifinals.
The significance of the women's sabre event is heightened this time. Korea did not win a medal in the individual sabre event for the first time in history at this tournament. In the 2022 Hangzhou Games, they also settled for a bronze in the team event, ending a three-year medal streak.
The team rebounded by winning the team title at the Asian Championships in June, defeating Japan. With at least a bronze secured, they will compete against China for a spot in the finals.
The men's epee team also joined the semifinals with a dramatic comeback victory. The team, made up of Park Sang-young, Jang Hyo-min (both from Ulsan City Hall), Nam Yeon-ho (Korea National Sport University), and Kwon Oh-min (Military Sports Corps), defeated China 45-36 in the quarterfinals.
The match started poorly for Korea, trailing 15-17 after the fourth bout.
Jang Hyo-min turned the tide as the fifth fencer, scoring 7 points to tie the match at 22-22. Olympic gold medalist Park Sang-young then flipped the score to 27-25 in Korea's favor.
Once Korea gained momentum, they did not allow any further scoring from China. Nam Yeon-ho added 5 points while conceding only 1, extending the lead, and Jang Hyo-min returned as the final fencer to conclude the match.
The men's epee team is aiming for their first team gold medal in 12 years since the 2014 Incheon Games. They will face host nation Japan in the semifinals.
With medals secured in both women's sabre and men's epee, Korean fencing has reached the podium in all six team events at this tournament. Earlier, the men's sabre team won gold, while the women's epee and women's foil teams earned silver, and the men's foil team took bronze.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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